Shutdown will immediately impact lakes, forests
CADILLAC -- Federal Departments are starting to lay out plans in the event of a government shutdown.
For Northern Michigan it's our treasured resources like the lakes and forests where we could see an immediate impact.
Federal employees are waiting to hear from Washington. If a decision on the budget isn't reached by midnight, it will idle 800,000 workers including a hundred at the U.S. Forest Service in Cadillac.
Kenneth Arborgast, a spokesperson with the U.S. Forest Service says, "There are a lot of questions we don't have answers to yet. We don't know if people will be paid for time lost."
What this department does know is that the office will close at noon on Monday.
Arborgast says, "People will not be able to purchase a permit to gather firewood and campgrounds will be closed."
Another concern is if forest service workers aren't on the job, what would happen if a fire breaks out?
Carol Nilsson with the U.S. Forest Service says, "It is fire season, and we've already had a couple of fires already. One was 20 acres."
Nilsson says as of right now firefighters who protect federal land would stay on the job.
On the water, Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City will be ready for emergencies.
Commander Jonathon Spaner says, "All essential services will be available search and rescue, law enforcement, homeland security, and environmental response."
Commander Spaner tells me agency officials are revising their contingency plans by the hour, taking into account legal requirements. He says the basic rule is that federal employees who protect people or federal property can continue to work.
